Private bus operators demand fare hike to keep virus at bay

by Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

Private bus owners yesterday accused the government of doing nothing to ensure that their buses would not become corona virus spreaders.

President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne said

that when Colombo was re-opened to the public on Monday both corona infected and healthy commuters would travel together and it would be a matter of luck to be safe from the virus.

“We have written to the Transport Ministry, asking it to introduce a safety mechanism, but in vain.

“We told the transport ministry that we could transport one commuter per seat if they allow us to increase the minimum bus fare from Rs 12 to Rs 20 as a temporary measure. The government did not allow it.”

“We cannot expect people to keep one metre distance inside the bus. Only a few buses operate these days. So when people get delayed they would board buses throwing caution to the winds. So both infected and non-infected will travel together and this will lead to disaster.”